S.T.F.B.N

Sri Lanka to play Pakistan in the final on Sunday

DUBAI, SEP 9 (IANS): Sri Lanka completed a remarkable comeback as they recovered from a crushing defeat in their Asia Cup 2022 opener to top the Super 4 stage. Dasun Shanka’s men hammered Pakistan by 5 wickets, successfully chasing 122 runs in their final Super match, which was also the dress rehearsal for the big final, India Today reported.

Sri Lanka will head to the final against Pakistan with winning momentum on their side. The muchanticipated battle for bragging rights in Asia will be played in Dubai on Sunday, September 11.

Sri Lanka rode on a well-calculated fifty from opener Pathum Nissanka as he played a rock solid knock after the Pakistan pacers rocked their top-order in the low-scoring affair in Dubai. Nissanka rode the early storm and finished with a 48-ball 55 as Sri Lanka nathilaka early after Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf breathed fire with the new ball.

Haris Rauf sent back Dananjaya de Silva back inside the powerplay as Sri Lanka slipped to 27 for 3.

However, Nissanka and left-hand batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa stitched a 50run stand for the 4th wicket to take Sri Lanka closer to the finish line. Bhanuka took on the Pakistan spinners as he hit a quickfire 24 off 19 balls to help swing the momentum in Sri Lanka’s favour.

Nissanka stayed unbeaten and made sure he allowed the likes of Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga played mini cameos and get the job done as early as the 17th over.

Earlier, Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan but their captain’s struggles to bat with fluency in Asia Cup 2022 continued. Babar hit 30 but he consumed 29 balls without managing to keep the scoreboard moving at a brisk pace. All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, who

Pathum Nissanka plays a shot between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Dubai, Friday. (AP/PTI)

chased down the total with 3 overs to spare and finish the Super 4 stage on top with 6 points. Sri Lanka lost in-form opener Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gushone against India earlier in the week, chipped in with a quick 26 but it was not enough as Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana spun a web around Pakistan’s batting order, picking up 5 wickets between them. Mohammad Rizwan suffered a rare failure as he fell for 14 in the powerplay following which Fakhar Zaman struggled to get going.

Pakistan slipped from 91 for 5 to 85 for 7 as Hasaranga ran through the middle-order, picking up the wickets of Ifthikar Ahmed and Asif Ali in successive deliveries. It was the legspinner who got the big wicket of the day, castling Babar, who tried to break the shackles with an attempted sweep. Brief scores: Pakistan 121 all out in 19.1 overs (Babar Azam 30, Mohammad Nawaz 26; Wanindu Hasaranga 3/21, Maheesh Theekshana 2/21) lost to Sri Lanka 124-5 in 17 overs (Pathum Nissanka 55 not out, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 24; Haris Rauf 2/19) by five wickets

NEW YORK, SEP 9

(IANS): World No. 1 and two-time champion at Roland Garros Iga Swiatek of Poland fought back from a 2-4 deficit in the third set to overcome Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and secure a place in the US Open final for the first time in her career on Friday (IST).

Swiatek will meet No.5 seed Ons Jabeur in Saturday’s women’s singles final after the Tunisian thrashed No.17 seed Caroline Garcia of France 6-1, 6-3 to become the first player to advance to the final in Wimbledon and at the US Open in the same season since Serena Williams in 2019.

Swiatek made several comebacks on way to making the US Open final, fighting back from a oneset deficit, as well as from a break down in the third set twice, before getting past the powerful No.6 seed Sabalenka 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in 2-hour, 11-minute inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I felt a huge difference between the first set and the last two,” Swiatek

Iga Swiatek was quoted as saying by WTA after the match. “I’m pretty happy that I got my level of energy up a little bit.

“Aryna made it difficult today, for sure. I felt like she was serving pretty solid. It was hard to come back in the third, but I’m pretty happy that I did.”

Swiatek, who had never made a quarterfinal appearance at Flushing Meadows before this season, is into her third career Grand Slam final, her second of the year and first after the French Open. The Pole is 2-0 in Grand Slam finals in her career. She won in Paris in 2020 and earlier this year.

Swiatek and Jabeur have shared the honours in the four matches they have played against each other, and are 1-1 on hard courts. In their only meeting this season, Swiatek easily defeated the Tunisian in the Rome final on clay.

“(Jabeur) has a different game style than most of the players,” Swiatek said. “She has a great touch. All these things mixed up, yeah, she’s just a tough opponent.

“I feel like Aryna served pretty well today, better than on our other matches,” Swiatek said. “(Losing the first two games of the third set) kind of helped me to get back on ground and realise I still have a lot of expectations even though the second set was pretty dominant.

“I just went all in, you know. This time it actually gave me a lot, and the balls that I played went in. I’m pretty happy because I feel like we were both kind of sometimes risking, because the pace was really, really high,” added Swiatek.

Europa League: Sociedad beat Man Utd 1-0

Brais Mendes scored the winning goal from the penalty spot.

LONDON, SEP 9

(AGENCIES): Man chester United’s Europa League group stage campaign began with a home defeat to Real Sociedad at Old Trafford.

The game was played after consultation with the Football Association and Uefa following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

No music was played in the stadium around the match and both sides wore black armbands and stood for a perfectly observed minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

Brais Mendez scored the only goal from the penalty spot after 59 minutes following a disputed handball decision against substitute Lisandro Martinez.

In his first European game outside the Champions League since 2002, when he was a teenager at Sporting Lisbon, Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half header from Diogo Dalot’s cross was disallowed for offside.

Ronaldo also headed Bruno Fernandes’ cross wide at the start of the second-half.

Manchester United play their second group game against Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova on Thursday, 15 September.

EPL weekend’s matches off as mark of respect to Queen

LONDON, SEP 9 (IANS):

The Premier League, top division of English football, has postponed the matches scheduled this weekend, as a mark of respect following the death of Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died on Thursday aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. The country is now in a state of national mourning.

“At a meeting this morning, Premier League clubs paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” the Premier League said in a statement on Friday.

“To honour her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game,” it added.

A total of ten Premier League matches were scheduled this weekend.

Dauda brace takes Mohammedan SC to semis

KOLKATA, SEP 9 (PTI):

Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting overwhelmed a young and talented Kerala Blasters side 3-0 in the first quarter-final of the Durand Cup here on Friday.

A brace from debutant Nigerian Abiola Dauda (59’ 84’) and a first-half strike by SK Faiaz (17’) ensured a smooth ride to the last four for the Black and White brigade.

MDSP, despite missing key players like Faslu and Abhishek Halder due to injuries and suspension, were on the front foot from the outset and it seemed like a matter of time before they scored. Credit should go to Azharuddin Malik for holding on to the ball in the middle of the Blasters half and then playing back to Safiul who played forward to Abhash Thapa.

Thapa found Marcus to his left and the Trinidadian delivered a dangerous low cross across the face of goal. Among two onrushing MDSP attackers, Yumnam

Mohammedan SC players celebrate after Dauda scored his second goal against Kerala Blasters in the quarterfinal of the Durand Cup 2022. (Durand Cup Media)

Gopi missed it but Faiaz was at hand to slot home with ease.

The Blasters did not let the goal subdue their spirits and continued to try and get into the game by creating a few good chances of their own. The equaliser though, did not materialise.

The half ended with MDSP ahead but needing to do more.

The attacks kept coming and Dauda got his first big chance in the 58th minute, when Marcus played Faiaz inside the box on the right and he in turn found the Nigerian perfectly with his cross. Dauda met the ball on the full and with the keeper and an open goal in front of him, missed his connection and the volley flew over. He did not have to wait for long for his first goal however, as the same Marcus-Faiaz combination, played him inside the box in between two defenders, just a minute later. The Nigerian bluffed the keeper, taking him out of the equation and shot towards goal. Centre-back Marwan tried to salvage the situation, but all he got was a touch before the ball trickled inside the goal. The insurance was delivered.

Players of Naga Raising Star with the organizers of the 2nd Open Football Tournament at DDSC Stadium, Dimapur on Friday. Naga Raising Star beat United Gurkha 4-0.

Chess championship in Mokokchung

Winners, participants and officials in Mokokchung. DIMAPUR, SEP 9

(NPN): The first ever Chess Coaching campcum-1st Mokokchung District Chess championship was conducted from September 6 -9 at unit school DEF Mokokchng.

The championship was organized by department of Youth Resources and Sports, Nagaland Chess Association in collaboration with DEF Mokokchung. Following are the results of the championship: Champion- Parkash Burathoki; 1st Runner up – Imoten; 2nd Runner up- Sentisangla; 4th position- to 14th position were given chess sets along with certificate and 15th to 20th position were given cash prize along with certificate (All participants were given certificate) Meanwhile, Nagaland Chess Association has set up its Mokokchung District Chess Association (MDCA) and also distributed 10 chess sets to (MDCA) and 10 chess sets to unit school DEF, Mokokchung.

Selection trial for Sepaktakraw in Niuland

DIMAPUR, SEP 9 (NPN):

District Sports Office, Dimapur will be conducting coaching-cum-selection trial for Sepaktakraw (Regu Event) both boys and girls under Niuland district to participate in the 14th State Level Catch Them Young Tournament on September 13 at Xelhozhe village local ground, Niuland district.

DSO Dimapur informed that player born on or before October 12, 2008 will be eligible and have been asked to produce original Aadhaar card and birth certificate for age verification at the time of selection.

Selected players will represent Niuland district in the 14th State Level Catch Them Young Tournament 2022 at IG Stadium, Kohima to be held from October 12 to 14. Further details can be contacted at DSO office 8974725561 during office timing.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Late Mrs. Zevo-ü Üsou

We, the bereaved family of Late Mrs. Zevo-ü Üsou sincerely extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and everyone who stood by us physically, emotionally, financially and in prayers during the time of her illness till her last breath on 05-09-2022. We are indebted beyond words for the immeasurable kindness, love and support extended towards us.

We convey our special thanks to :1. Christian Revival Church Nerhema. 2. Baptist Church Nerhema. 3. Catholic Church Nerhema. 4. Christian Revival Church Nerhe Phezha. 5. Baptist Church Nerhe Phezha. 6. Bethesda Christian Revival Church Kohima. 7. Northern Angami C.R Prayer Centre

Nerhema (NACRPC) 8. C.R. Mission Church Kohima. 9. Koinonia Baptist Church Kohima. 10. Koinonia Prayer Centre Tsiesema. 11. Shalom C.R.C Kitsubozou. 12. Lower Bayavü Youth Organisation. 13. Dr. Kezha, Dr. Atuo, Nurses & staff of Bethel Hospital Kohima. 14. Temjen Imna Along, Hon’ble Minister, B.J.P State President. 15. H.Chuba Chang, Hon’ble Advisor. 16. Dr. Neiphrezo Kedistu, Chairman NKVIB.

1st Death anniversary